Talking-machine.



J. C. ENGLISH.

TALKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24. 1911.

w l ,1 88,744 Patented June 27', 1916.

INVENTOR (fa/a2 U y/Ark BY @d ATTORNEY JOHN'C. ENGLISH, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIiGN'OR TO VICTOR TALKING MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY TALKING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented June 2'7, 1916.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN C. ENGLISH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Camden, county of Camden, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Talking- Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to talking machines, and more particularly to an improved tone arm and mounting therefor,

and to an improved connection between a tone arm and a sound box. I

The main objects of this invention are to provide a compact, simple and inexpensive mounting for a tone arm; to provide an improved connection between a sound box and a tone arm whereby the sound box may 7 be inverted into an inoperative position to rest close to a turn-table and to provide other improvements as will appear hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1- is a fragmentary top plan view, partly in horizontal section, of. a talking machine constructed in accordance with this invention; and Fig. 2 a fragmentary side elevation partly in vertical section of the same. Referring to thedrawings, one embodiment of this invention comprises a horizontal wall or support 1, which may be the top wall of an ordinary cabinet, such as is generally used in talking machines. Arranged above this support 1 is the usual horizontal turn-table 2 which is rotatably mounted upon the upper end of a spindle 3 projecting freely through the support 1 and actuated by the usual or any suitable mechanism (not shown) arranged beneath the wall 1.

Arranged above the turn-table 2, to cooperate therewith, is any ordinary -or suitable sound box or sound reproducer 5, provided with the usual stylus 6 arranged to engage a sound record 7. mounted as usual upon the turn-table 2. For supporting the soundbox 5 to swing across the face of the record 7, the sound box is preferably conopen and externally cylindrical in shape and is preferably slightly longer than the outer arm. This inner cylindrical end 12 telescopes snugly but rotatably in the internally cylindrical laterally projecting outer free end 15 of a tone arm 16.

"The major portion of the tone arm 16 preferablytapers outwardly and the longitudinal axis of-this major portion is preferably straight and arranged in a horizontal plane. The. longitudinal axis of the outer cylindrical end 15 of the tone arm preferably extends substantially horizontally' and at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the major portion of the -tone arm, the outer cylindrical portion 15 being connected to the smaller end of the major portion 16 by a tubular portion 17 curved longitudinally through an arc of substantially 90.

For securing the inner end 12 of the U- tube 11 rotatably within the outer end of the tone arm 15, the inner end of the sound conveyer 11 is provided with a segmental slot 20 extending partially around the portion'of the tube llsurrounded by the cylindrical end 15 of the tone arm. A pin or stop 21 is threaded through the cylindrical outer portion 15 of the tone arm and its inner end projects into the slot, holding the U-tube 11 against movement longitudinally of thecylindrical portion 15 of the tone arm, but permitting the free rotation thereof within the limits of the slot. The outer end of this stop 21 is preferably provided with a head 22 slotted as at 23 to receive a screw driver, and a boss 24 may be provided on the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 15 ofthe tone arm to receive the stop 21. The segmental slot 20 is so proportioned and arranged that when the stylus is in engagement with the record 7 the sound box will be free to move vertically in either direction sufiiciently to follow any irregularities in the record or record support.

For supporting the sound box when in an inverted inoperative position the segmental slot 20 is so proportioned and arranged that when the sound box is inverted into the. position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the inner end of the pin 21 will engage against the corresponding end wall of the slot 20 to maintain the sound box and its supporting U-tube 11 with their longitudinal the longitudinal axis of the tapering major portion 16 of the tone arm. The construction is such that the sound box is but slightly removed from the face of a record 7 upon the turn-table when the sound box is supported by the pin 21 and is in its inoperative inverted position.

For supporting the tone arm to swing about a fixed vertical axis and for delivering sound. waves downwardly through the larger end of the tone arm through the support 1 and into the inlet end of the usual or a y suitable sound amplifier 30 depending downwardly from the wall 1, the larger part of the major portion 16 of the tone arm is curved rearwardly and downwardly through an arc of substantially 90 and terminates in a flat open delivery end forming a circular outlet. This delivery end is provided with a flat annular horizontal circular flange 31 rigid and flush therewith and projecting outwardly therefrom. This flange 31 rests slidably upon the upper surface of a corresponding flat horizontal annular flange 32 integral or rigid with and projecting outwardly from the upper end of a hollow, externally and internally cylindrical bushing 33 extending tightly through an aperture provided therefor in the support. 1. The lower end of this bushing preferably abuts against the upper end of a sound amplifier .30. The internal diameter of the bushing 33' is preferably substantially equal to the internal diameter of the larger end of the tone arm 16.

Arranged upon the outer or rear side of the larger end of the tone arm 16 is a boss 35 projecting upwardly from the flange 31 of the tone arm and rigidly secured. thereto and to the adjacent outer surface of the tone arm by brazing, or in any suitable manner. This boss is provided centrally with a vertical cylindrical aperture 36, extending through the boss and through the flange 31, in which rotatively engages a pivot 37 the upper end of which projects above the boss and is preferably provided with a head 38 rigid therewith engaging the upper end of the boss. The lower end of the pivot 37 engages snugly in an aperture 39 in the flange 32 of the bushing 33 and is preferably held in fixed position longitudinally by a pin 40 extending horizontally through the flange 32 and into the pivot 36. By this construction, the tone arm is restrained to swing in a horizontal plane about a fixed vertical-axis coincident with the longitudinal axis of the pivot 37, the lower horizontal surface of the flange 31 sliding across the upper horizontal surface of the fixed flange 32 and the arrangement is such that when the sound box is substantially in the center of its path across the record in reproducing sounds, the opening in the larger end of the tone arm will register with the opening through the bushing 33.

To limit the movement of the tone arm about the pivot 36. the flange 31 of the tone arm is provided opposite the pivot with a segmental recess concentric with the pivot and having abrupt end walls ll} arranged radially with respect to the pivot. In this recess is located a vertical pin or stop 4-7, the lower end of which is threaded into the fixed flange As the tone arm is oscillated about its pivot 36. the end walls 43 of the recess 45 engage alternately against the pin 47 to limit the movement of the tone arm in opposite directions respectively. The recess -15 is proportioned to permitof the necessary movement of the tone arm when in operation.

Although only a single embodiment of this invention has been illustrated. it is obvious that the invention is not limited to the particular construction shown, but might be embodied in other forms without departing fromthe spirit of the. invention, or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described this invention, I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the I uited States:

1. In a talking machine. the combination I with a hollow tone arm mounted at one end to swing about a fixed axis and having its outer portion longitudinally curved and terminating in a laterally projecting open end, of a substantially U-shaped tubular sound conveyer communicating with and rotatably connected with said end coaxially therewith, a sound box carried by and communicating with the outer 'end of said tubular conveyer, said sound box and said tubular conveyer being in'vertible with respect to said tone arm into an inoperative position facing said tone arm, and means to hold said sound box stationary with respect to said tone.arm when in said inoperative position.

2. In a talking machine. the combination with a hollow tone arm having a laterally projecting end, of a substantially U-shaped tubular sound eonveyer rotatably telescoping at one end with said end of said tone arm, a sound box carried by and communieating with the other end of said U-shaped sound conveyer, and means between the adjacent ends of said arm and conveyer to limit the movement of said conveyer and support it with respect to said tone arm, sald sound box being invertible with respect to said tone arm into an inoperative position at the limit of its movement in one direction and positioned laterally with respect to saidtone arm.

3. In a talking machine, the combination with a tone arm having a longitudinally curved and laterally projecting free end. of

a longitudinally curved tube having one end connected to said free end to oscillate coaxially therewith, and a sound reproducer of said tone arm, a sound box carried by and communicating with the other end of said conveyer, and means between the adjacent ends of said tone arm and said conveyer for holding said sound box in an inoperative position, said sound box being arranged in a position horizontally opposite and facing said tone arm when in said inoperative position.

5. A talking machine-comprising a hollow tone arm having a downwardly turned open delivery end, a hollow support for said arm against which said end slidably engages, and a pivot between said end and said support arranged eccentric with respect to said end, and in alinement with said arm upon which said arm is mounted to oscillate.

6. A talking machine comprising a tone arm having an open delivery end provided with an outwardly extending flange, a 1101- low support slidably engaged by said end and a pivot extending through said flange and into said support for restraining said arm to swing about a fixed axis, said flange being provided opposite said pivot with a recess and said support being provided with a stop engaging in said recess to limit the movement of said arm about said pivot.

7. In a talking machine, the combination with a rotary record support, of a hollow tone arm having an open delivery end, a hollow support upon which said delivery end is mounted to oscillate upon an axis eccentric with respect to said end, and sound reproducing means mounted upon and communicating with said tone arm and arranged to be carried by said tone arm across said record support, the delivery end of said tone arm being arranged to register with the opening in said hollow support when said sound reproducing means is substantially at the central portion of its operative path across a' record mounted on said record support, and the joint between said support and said tone arm being maintained in contact by the weight of the latter. 8. In a talking machine, the combination With a hollow support providing a bearing, of a tone arm mounted to swing upon said support and having a flange pressed into contact with said support by the weight of the free end of said tone arm, and a pivot eccentrically disposed at the discharge end of said tone arm and extending through said flange and support.

9. In a talking machine, the combination with a hollow support having a flange. of an oscillatory tone arm having a flange, the face of which is engaged with the face of the flange of said support by the weight of the free end of said tone arm, and means pivotally securing said support and tone arm together on an axis eccentric to the axis of said tone arm at that end of the tone arm which engages said support.

10. In a talking machine, the combination with a tubular tone arm having a longitudinally curved and laterally projecting free open end, of a substantially U-shaped tubular sound conveyor having an open end rotatably telescoping with said first mentioned open end, and a sound box carried by and communicating with the other end of said tubular conveyer, said conveyer and sound box being invertible to bring said sound box into an inoperative position facing said tone arm and substantially in a horizontal plane therewith.

11. In a talking machine, the combination with a hollow tone arm having an open delivery end, of a member provided with an opening cooperating with said end, said arm being mounted to oscillate about an axis spaced from the longitudinal axis of said end and in alinement with said arm.

12. In a talking machine, the combination with a rotary record support, of a hollow movable tone arm provided with an outlet, relatively stationary means provided with an inlet cooperating with said outlet, and sound'reproducing means carried by and communicating with said arm and arranged to move with said arm across said record support, said arm being pivoted to swing in a fixed path about a fixed axis spaced from the center of said outlet in a direction away from said sound reproducing means, and in alinement with said arm.

13. In a talking machine, the combination of ahollow tone arm having an angularly disposed open delivery end, of a hollow support for said arm against which said delivery end slidably engages, a pivot between said delivery end and said support arranged eccentric with respect to said end upon which said arm is mounted to oscillate, and a stop to limit the motion of said arm with respect to said support. p

14. In a talking machine, the combination with a rotary record support, of a hollow movable tone arm provided with an outlet disposed in angular relation with respect thereto, a relatively stationary support means provided with an inlet cooperating with said outlet, sound reproducing means carried by and communicating with said arm and arranged to move with said arm across said record support, said arm being pivoted to swing about a fixed axis spaced from the center of said outlet, said outlet being arranged to register with said inlet when said sound reproducing means is substantially midway of its operative path across said support, and means to limit the amount of movement of said tone arm about said pivot.

15. A talking machine comprisinga hollow tone arm having an open delivery end extending at, an angle to the axis of the major portion of said tone arm, a hollow support for said arm against which said delivery end slidingly engages, and a pivot between said end and said support arranged eccentric with respect to said end and in box mounted on said free end of said memher, said sound conducting member and said sound box being invertible wlth respect to said arm to an inoperative position of said sound box, and means between sald-tone arm ,and said conducting member both for retone arm and freely rotatable with respect to said tone arm, a sound box mounted on the free end of said member, said sound conductin member and said sound box being inverti 1e with respect to said arm to an inoperative position of said sound box, and means between said tone arm and said conducting member both for holding said member in telescopic relation with respect to said tone arm, and for limiting the extent of relative movement of said member.

In witness whereof'I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of March 1911.

JOHN C. ENGLISH.

\Vitnesses:

FRANK B. MIDDLETON, Jr., CHARLES F. \VILLARD. 

